EPP backs Fine Gael and Enda Kenny ahead of the Irish elections

The European People’s Party (EPP) leaders adopted a declaration at the summit today in Brussels reiterating their support for Fine Gael and Taoiseach Enda Kenny ahead of the general elections in Ireland:

Over the past five years, Taoiseach Kenny’s government has succeeded in implementing responsible policies and reforms to the benefit of the country and its people. The perseverance and hard work of Irish people combined with forward-looking government policies have led Ireland to a broad-based and sustainable recovery turning the Irish economy around. As the European political family of Fine Gael, the EPP, would like to emphasise once again its full trust in the work carried out by Enda Kenny and the Fine Gael-led government.

Under the leadership of Enda Kenny

Ireland has been the fastest growing economy in Europe, with GDP growing at just under 7% in 2015. The new Irish economy is no longer dependent upon just one sector. A broad based, enterprise-led recovery is reshaping Ireland’s economic landscape;

The Irish deficit has been progressively reduced from €18 bn in 2010 to just over €4bn in 2015;

Government Debt has declined from a high of 120% in 2012 to less than 97% in 2015 and forecast to be less than 93% in 2016. Over the last five years, 135.000 additional jobs have been created. Under its long-term economic plan, Fine Gael projects that Irish Government Debt Levels will fall well below the EU average by 2021;

Unemployment is now 8.6%, the lowest it has been for seven years, down from a high of more than 15% in 2012;

Ireland has restored its reputation in Europe and internationally placing Fine Gael at heart of the EPP, the largest political family in Europe.

The results show that Fine Gael can be trusted on Ireland’s economy, thereby delivering prosperity for its people and society. A second term is needed to build on the good results and continue with necessary reforms to maintain the economic stability.

The current political situation in Greece, Spain or Portugal clearly show what could be the alternative. Greece has tumbled back into deep recession, Portugal’s cost of borrowing has skyrocketed as a result of their leftist government while Spain faces political uncertainty due to unreliable national leftist forces. Ireland’s recovering economy cannot afford a spell of political uncertainty by letting Fianna Fáil and Sinn Fein mismanage the country again.

The challenges faced by Europe and Ireland require a committed, strong and responsible Irish government. Fine Gael has proved it can deliver and EPP trusts it will be up to the challenge again.

You will find attached our kit media which includes backgrounds and variants of the EPP logotype available in several languages. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at connect@epp.eu.